The winners will be revealed at a special 25th Anniversary edition of the D.I.C.E. Awards ceremony, and livestreamed by the official media partner, IGN, on Feb. 24 from the Mandalay Bay Resort Las Vegas, as the culmination of the week-long industry gathering, the 2022 D.I.C.E. Summit (#DICE2022).
Fifty-nine games released in 2021 received nominations. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart leads the pack with nine nominations, followed by Deathloop earning eight. Tying for six nominations each are Inscryption and It Takes Two, with Returnal earning five nods, and Kena: Bridge of Spirits and Resident Evil Village each taking four. Finalists for 2021’s top honor, Game of the Year, are: Deathloop, Inscryption, It Takes Two, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, and Returnal.
"From all of us at the Academy, we want to thank our peer panelists who continue to dedicate their energy, expertise, and time in evaluating and selecting 2021's best games," said Meggan Scavio, president of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. "And to all our finalists, congratulations! You continue to amaze us with how you push the boundaries of creativity, technical innovation, and storytelling. We're excited to celebrate your achievements at the 25th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards."
Academy members will begin general voting today, Jan. 13, at 5:00 PM PT.
Outstanding Achievement in Animation
Call of Duty: Vanguard
Deathloop
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Resident Evil Village
Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction
Call of Duty: Vanguard
Deathloop
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Resident Evil Village
Outstanding Achievement in Character
Deathloop – Colt Vahn
Kena: Bridge of Spirits – Kena
Life is Strange: True Colors – Alex Chen
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart – Rivet
Resident Evil Village – Lady Dimitrescu
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition
Deathloop
It Takes Two
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
Psychonauts 2
Returnal
Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design
Forza Horizon 5
Halo Infinite
It Takes Two
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Returnal
Outstanding Achievement in Story
Before Your Eyes
Inscryption
MARVEL's Guardians of the Galaxy
Psychonauts 2
The Forgotten City
Outstanding Technical Achievement
Battlefield™ 2042
Forza Horizon 5
Moncage
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Returnal
Action Game of the Year
Deathloop
Halo Infinite
Metroid Dread
Returnal
The Ascent
Adventure Game of the Year
Death's Door
It Takes Two
MARVEL's Guardians of the Galaxy
Psychonauts 2
Resident Evil Village
Family Game of the Year
Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Happy Home Paradise
Cozy Grove
Mario Party Superstars
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Warioware: Get it Together
Fighting Game of the Year
GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE-
Melty Blood: Type Lumina
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl
Racing Game of the Year
F1 2021
Forza Horizon 5
Hot Wheels Unleashed
Role-Playing Game of the Year
Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
Shin Megami Tensei V
Tales of Arise
Wildermyth
Sports Game of the Year
EA SPORTS FIFA 22
Mario Golf: Super Rush
NBA 2k22
Riders Republic
The Climb 2
Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year
Age of Empires IV
Gloomhaven
Griftlands
Inscryption
Loop Hero
Immersive Reality Technical Achievement
Lone Echo II
Puzzling Places
Resident Evil 4 VR
Song in the Smoke
YUKI
Immersive Reality Game of the Year
Demeo
I Expect You To Die 2
Lone Echo II
Resident Evil 4 VR
Song in the Smoke
Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game
Death's Door
Inscryption
Loop Hero
Sable
Unpacking
Mobile Game of the Year
Behind the Frame
Fantasian
League of Legends: Wild Rift
Moncage
Pokémon UNITE
Online Game of the Year
Back 4 Blood
Call of Duty: Vanguard
Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker
Halo Infinite
Knockout City
Outstanding Achievement in Game Design
Deathloop
Inscryption
It Takes Two
Loop Hero
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction
Deathloop
Inscryption
It Takes Two
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
The Artful Escape
Game of the Year
Deathloop
Inscryption
It Takes Two
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Returnal
The Academy’s 30K+ members, comprised of the interactive publishing and development communities, recognize excellence in 23 different interactive game categories in one of the highest forms of recognition in the industry. Titles were played and evaluated by members of the Academy’s peer panels to determine final nominees. These panels, one for each award category, are comprised of the game industry’s most experienced and talented experts in their chosen fields. Winners are determined as part of a confidential voting process and will be revealed on the evening of the show.